US to press China next week on ,innovation, policy

By IBT Staff Reporter On 04/07/10 AT 11:55 AM

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - A top U.S. trade official said on Wednesday he will raise industry concerns about China's indigenous innovation policies that threaten U.S. intellectual property rights when he visits Beijing next week.

What we're trying to do with the Chinese is address the very serious concerns that have been raised, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis said in remarks to the Washington International Trade Association.

Marantis also repeated President Barack Obama's desire that China move to a more market-oriented exchange rate, and said the Obama administration had not yet taken a position on a Senate bill threatening China with tariffs if it does not significantly raise the value of its currency.

We are taking a close look at it administration-wide and don't yet have a view, Marantis said.

U.S. business groups have raised alarm about a Chinese policy that requires companies to develop their intellectual property in China if they want to qualify for preferences under that country's government procurement program.

Marantis called the issue a significant concern that the United States wants China to address this year.

He stopped short of threatening to bring a World Trade Organization case against China, but said the issue would be high on the U.S. agenda at the bilateral Strategic and Economic Dialogue meeting in late May in Beijing.

Another high-level meeting later this year, the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, is a second opportunity to press on the issue, Marantis said.

Marantis said he would also raise concerns next week about a number of other trade irritants.

Those include Chinese piracy of U.S. movies, software and music, barriers to U.S. farm goods, restrictions on foreign investment and obstacles faced by U.S. services companies.

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